Top Secret Pixie Dust! A Surprise 13th Birthday PTR! NEW! TRIP REPORT LINK PAGE 220!

[MeMom]

Oh, you know it was complete craziness at our school. As soon as we got to school, the snow started falling. Keeping the kids looking at the board instead of out the window was an exercise in futility. Then, about two hours into the day, our assistant principal came on the intercom and said we needed to alter the lunch schedule to make sure the kids were all fed "just in case." The madness ratcheted up a notch with that. Then, soon after, he came back on and announced we would be dismissing around 12:00 as soon as the buses had run the elementary routes. It was all over at that point. Parents were checking their kids out like crazy, and the kids who remained could not even focus on doing the usual DOL and vocabulary exercises that we start the class period with every day. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time our half day was over. I came home and collapsed for an afternoon nap. Apparently the novelty of snow has worn off for Chelsea and Connor because they didn't even go out to play in it. They were just happy to have the afternoon off.

Now we wait and see what the roads are going to do tonight.



Yes, but it will be tonight or maybe tomorrow. I have to go make lasagna now.

Much like some days we've had in the past. Getting home early sounds wonderful after the chaos. Maybe you'll get an ice day tomorrow? I hope we do not get any more snow days now, since they've decided the best way to remedy it is the extra half hour. Not a good solution. Starting next week, tutoring won't end until 5:30, and I won't get home until almost 6. Disney money, Disney money; I just have to keep my mind on the fact that it is Disney money.

Lasagna sounds good.

 

[Native NYer]

Oh, I would so buy at AKV -- I want to know I can go see my lovely Lodge until I am old and decrepit. LOL!

Maybe there will be a really great incentive to buy soon.

 

[eandesmom]

ok this calls for more than popcorn while we wait

It calls for...



Which would be even nicer with lasagne!

Although I do smell a yummy pot roast right now.

I can't wait to see what you decided!

 

[MEK]

Can't wait to hear what you decided. I am sorry this has been so stressful for you. But whatever is decided, you will still have a wonderful vacation. I hope you do consider renting DVC points. I don't think DVC should be purchased if you have to do a lot of financing. It really starts to lose some of its advantage when its financed and I know they push that. At least my guide did. I would love to see you get a nice resale at a reasonable price. But you have to wait until the time is right.

So, how was dinner anyway? Yum!

 

[MegansMom]

I'm glad my advice helped you out somehow.....can't wait to see what you decided!!!! I hope you enjoyed your nap!!!!!

Lasagna is ALWAYS good in my book!!!! I made a Chicken Fettucine Alfredo casserole tonight, and have SO much leftover that I might not have to cook tomorrow!!!! YEAH!!!! Love those dishes that can be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Much like some days we've had in the past. Getting home early sounds wonderful after the chaos. Maybe you'll get an ice day tomorrow? I hope we do not get any more snow days now, since they've decided the best way to remedy it is the extra half hour. Not a good solution. Starting next week, tutoring won't end until 5:30, and I won't get home until almost 6. Disney money, Disney money; I just have to keep my mind on the fact that it is Disney money.

Lasagna sounds good.

It doesn't look like it got below freezing last night -- it's 36 right now, so it's off to work I go.

Every time I have to be at school at 7:15 for tutoring, I think, Disney money, too. It helps a little, and I know I will think it's worth it when I am actually there.

Maybe there will be a really great incentive to buy soon.

Maybe. Although the more I look at resales and their prices, the more I realize that is the sounder way to go.

ok this calls for more than popcorn while we wait

It calls for...



Which would be even nicer with lasagne!

Although I do smell a yummy pot roast right now.

I can't wait to see what you decided!

I hope you have a lot of popcorn, Cynthia, since it may be a little bit longer on the update. I was beat after Lost, and now, I have to go to work. I was really hoping for an ice day today.

Pot roast sounds really good. So good, in fact, that I may have to make that next week!

Can't wait to hear what you decided. I am sorry this has been so stressful for you. But whatever is decided, you will still have a wonderful vacation. I hope you do consider renting DVC points. I don't think DVC should be purchased if you have to do a lot of financing. It really starts to lose some of its advantage when its financed and I know they push that. At least my guide did. I would love to see you get a nice resale at a reasonable price. But you have to wait until the time is right.

So, how was dinner anyway? Yum!

When I looked at how much interest I would be paying by financing DVC, I about hit the floor. It's hard to justify paying almost the same amount in interest as we would pay on the points themselves. I know DVC isn't going anywhere, so I am okay with waiting a little bit longer. The kids are about to enter those expensive high school years anyway.

Dinner was very good. We all love lasagna, and I have found it is pretty easy to make from scratch. Having the oven on for an hour made the house warm and cozy, too.

I'm glad my advice helped you out somehow.....can't wait to see what you decided!!!! I hope you enjoyed your nap!!!!!

Lasagna is ALWAYS good in my book!!!! I made a Chicken Fettucine Alfredo casserole tonight, and have SO much leftover that I might not have to cook tomorrow!!!! YEAH!!!! Love those dishes that can be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out!!!

Oh, that casserole sounds delicious! I try to make two or three meals a week that can be stretched into extra nights. Especially during soccer season when there are some nights we don't get home until later, it is a huge help.

 

[dsmom]

Is it too late for me to jump in? I have been a LONG time lurker on your trip
reports and have been enjoying your planning of the surprise trip.

I live vicariously through trip reports and have to say yours are the best!

 

[MegansMom]

Do we get to find out SOON where you are going/staying?!?!?!?! I am so ANXIOUS to hear!!!!!

 

[eandesmom]

I hope you have a lot of popcorn, Cynthia, since it may be a little bit longer on the update. I was beat after Lost, and now, I have to go to work. I was really hoping for an ice day today.

Pot roast sounds really good. So good, in fact, that I may have to make that next week!

When I looked at how much interest I would be paying by financing DVC, I about hit the floor. It's hard to justify paying almost the same amount in interest as we would pay on the points themselves. I know DVC isn't going anywhere, so I am okay with waiting a little bit longer. The kids are about to enter those expensive high school years anyway.

It was good! It was actually funny as apparently Jeff was going to request it for birthday night dinner (tomorrow) but I pre-empted him. The funnier yet part of it is usually on M-W nights the E's will eat earlier so Jeff and I can get workouts in, and work around the kids sports schedules. As a result, something like the roast, they are eating a good hour or 2 earlier than we are.

Evan informed me he likes it "chewy" better....aka not all the way done!

No popcorn but I can easily move to this



I hear you on the financing. I have a savings plan for DVC that will hopefully start in Jan of '11 and should allow us to buy in time for use at Peepfest. It's further out but it would be all in cash and I think it worth it. We will definitely be doing resale. Even with the incentives while we'd get a trip earlier (say for example if it's the this years points as well as next) we'd get so many less overall points it just doesn't make sense.

I do hope to do the tour this summer (and maybe even at GCV in April) so Jeff can see as we will need to decide where. He wants GCV and I don't think it's the right way to go. A year to figure all that out before we even start saving for it is probably a good thing!

Looking forward to the update but sorry you didn't get your ice day.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Just wanted to let you know I started my PTR.

"I Want To Go Back!!!

 

[Nicole786]

Ok! Caught up! That Princess Diana exhibit looked awesome. I can't wait to hear what you decide! The GF would have been awesome but anything you decide as long as you are in WDW you know its gonna be great!

 

[Megablocks]

Sorry you didn't get your ice day, Jackie

I'm sorry this whole thing has been so stressful for you. I am also super indecisive and drive Charles absolutely insane with it, so I'm really glad that you figured something out!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Is it too late for me to jump in? I have been a LONG time lurker on your trip
reports and have been enjoying your planning of the surprise trip.

I live vicariously through trip reports and have to say yours are the best!

Thanks so very much for the compliments! I am very flattered!

Do we get to find out SOON where you are going/staying?!?!?!?! I am so ANXIOUS to hear!!!!!

I typed my update during my planning today (instead of creating my final exams like I should have been ). I am posting in just a couple of minutes!

It was good! It was actually funny as apparently Jeff was going to request it for birthday night dinner (tomorrow) but I pre-empted him. The funnier yet part of it is usually on M-W nights the E's will eat earlier so Jeff and I can get workouts in, and work around the kids sports schedules. As a result, something like the roast, they are eating a good hour or 2 earlier than we are.

Evan informed me he likes it "chewy" better....aka not all the way done!

No popcorn but I can easily move to this



I hear you on the financing. I have a savings plan for DVC that will hopefully start in Jan of '11 and should allow us to buy in time for use at Peepfest. It's further out but it would be all in cash and I think it worth it. We will definitely be doing resale. Even with the incentives while we'd get a trip earlier (say for example if it's the this years points as well as next) we'd get so many less overall points it just doesn't make sense.

I do hope to do the tour this summer (and maybe even at GCV in April) so Jeff can see as we will need to decide where. He wants GCV and I don't think it's the right way to go. A year to figure all that out before we even start saving for it is probably a good thing!

Looking forward to the update but sorry you didn't get your ice day.

Evan's comment was too funny!

Believe it or not, we have never taken the DVC tour -- I know we would be done for if we did.

I am resigned to being here today -- I keep telling myself that at least we won't have to make up any lost time.

Just wanted to let you know I started my PTR.

"I Want To Go Back!!!

Fun! I will head over there soon!

Ok! Caught up! That Princess Diana exhibit looked awesome. I can't wait to hear what you decide! The GF would have been awesome but anything you decide as long as you are in WDW you know its gonna be great!

Thanks, Nicole! I was pretty bummed at first, but I am excited to have made another decision and be able to start coming up with ideas for it.

Sorry you didn't get your ice day, Jackie

I'm sorry this whole thing has been so stressful for you. I am also super indecisive and drive Charles absolutely insane with it, so I'm really glad that you figured something out!

Thanks, Megan! I have a decision now, and I feel SOOOOO much better!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I took everyone’s advice and just let my mind marinate this weekend on our various choices for the trip. I didn’t run any numbers, I didn’t pull up any vacation packages, and I didn’t email any DVC guides (well, that’s not strictly true, but I didn’t buy any DVC points).

Monday morning I knew what I wanted to do except for one small item. I ran the numbers on the dining plan versus no dining plan again.

Let’s just say there is a reason I do NOT teach math. Apparently, the first time I did it – and I still had the paper with the numbers on it – I didn’t add correctly. As it stands now, dining plan versus no dining plan is about the same. I opted to keep it for now – I can always change my mind later and drop it if I decide we should just pay OOP for all of our meals.

So, for now, we are keeping the 6-Day Magic Your Way tickets (since we need those to use the dining plan) and the Dining Plan. The allure of having much of the vacation paid for before we leave is so intoxicating to me.

On the resort front, Charles and I decided that since Chelsea has mentioned over and over again that she wants to stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort, we should probably head in that direction. If we can’t give her a stay at her dream resort, we can most certainly do her second choice. I called Disney Monday afternoon and officially switched from the Grand Floridian to the Caribbean Beach Resort but was still able to use our pin code! Hurray!

In other trip news, we are playing around with the idea of keeping the entire trip a secret from both kids now.

There is a cold wind blowing here today. Oh, how I wish we were at CBR already!

 

[cmskok]

Jackie, I am so glad that you were able to book at Caribbean Beach! It will be a wonderful trip!

 

[carissanboys]

Glad you were able to get CBR! I've gone back and forth between CBR and CSR for our January trip. At the moment, CSR is winning. I just love their newly renovated rooms.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Ahhhh, now your mind can rest at ease! It must feel good to have come to a decision, and I know you're vacation will be just as great at CBR!!

Keeping the trip a secret from both kids is probably a good idea - I'd be afraid that Conner would accidently let the cat out of the bag.....

 

[Dancegrl624]

CBR is on my list of resorts I'd like to stay at someday. It looks so relaxing!

 

[Megablocks]

I'm so glad you were able to get CBR! Even better that Chelsea really wants to stay there, too.

I think keeping the trip a secret is an awesome idea -- it might be hard, but it would be sooooo worth it in the end!

 

[goldielocksraj]

Yea, so glad that you were able to make a decision! And honestly, I think you made an excellent one. (Although all of your options had soooo many positives each . . .)

I totally understand about sticking to the dining plan, having things pre-paid before is so worth it! Less to think about on vacation=more fun and R&R!!!!